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I am indebted to Peter Roise for the following NT Wrightian comments. In the OT, the name "Baal-zebub" occurs only in 2 Kings 1. But the name reappears as a title for Satan in the gospels, when the leaders of Israel accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul, the Prince of the Demons (Matt 10:25; 12:22ff; Mark 3:23ff; Luke 11:17ff).
The situation in the gospels is linked to the story in 2 Kings 1 in at least one important respect: Ahaziah consults Baal-zebub because he is sick; Jesus is accused of being in league with Beelzebul after healing a demon-possessed man who is blind and dumb (Matt 12:22). The Pharisees who challenge Jesus in effect think they are playing the role of Elijah, charging Jesus with the sin of Ahaziah, the king who consults idols. Jesus is, in their thinking, the upstart blasphemer and idolater who is bringing a new teaching to Israel. But that is just a sign of their own blindness. "Is there no God in Israel" say the Pharisees, "that you should be casting out demons in the name of Beelzebul?" But there is a God in Israel, and His kingdom has come (Matt 12:28).
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Saturday, May 21, 2005 at 04:04 PM
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